Apparatus for hand protection and method thereof

Abstract

An apparatus for hand protection includes a flexible sheet that extends from a first end to a second end of the flexible sheet along a length thereof. Adhesive material is located on one side of the flexible sheet. A backing layer is on the adhesive material. The flexible sheet includes at least one finger opening closer to the first end than to the second end. The flexible sheet also includes a separation extending from the second and towards the first end. The separation separates the second and into a plurality of anchors. A method enables a flexible sheet with adhesive material thereon to be applied to a person's hands. Fingers are inserted through one or more finger openings. The backing layer is removed. The flexible sheet, including anchors formed by a separation extending from an end of the flexible sheet are adhered around the person's hand.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for protection of a hand having a wrist, a plurality of fingers and a plurality of knuckles, comprising:
 a flexible sheet having a continuous top side and a bottom flat side opposite the top side, said flexible sheet extending from a first edge to a second edge along a length thereof, said flexible sheet having a plurality of sections including a first section adjacent to said first edge, a second section adjacent to said second edge, and a third section between said first section and said second section, so that along said length from said first edge to said second edge said plurality of sections are ordered said first section, said third section, and said second section; 
 an adhesive material on said bottom flat side of said flexible sheet; 
 a backing layer on said adhesive material and subsequently removed; 
 said first section includes a flat area that has a plurality of finger openings planar with said flat area and arranged in sequence along a width of said flexible sheet, said width perpendicular to said length, said length from said first edge to said second edge greater than said width, said third section between said finger openings and said second section; 
 said second section includes a slit extending from said second edge towards said first edge which separates said second section into a plurality of anchors of substantially equal size and that are adapted for wrapping around said wrist, 
 each of said openings are encircled by said flexible sheet in said first section so that, when said fingers are inserted into said openings, respectively, said fingers are encircled by said flexible sheet, topmost edges of said openings are between said first edge and bottom edges of said openings, and 
 said flexible sheet includes a flexible sheet portion, above said topmost edges of said openings and below said first edge, that covers said knuckles after removal of at least a portion of said backing layer, said topmost edges above said third section; 
 length of said first section is less than combined length of said second section and said third section. 
 
     
     
       2. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said length is longer than a width of said flexible sheet. 
     
     
       3. A method for hand protecting of a hand having a wrist, a plurality of fingers and a plurality of knuckles, said method comprising the steps of:
 inserting fingers of a hand through finger openings in a flexible sheet having a continuous top side and a bottom flat side opposite the top side, said flexible sheet extending from a first edge to a second edge along a length thereof, said flexible sheet having a plurality of sections including a first section adjacent to said first edge, a second section adjacent to said second edge, and a third section between said first section and said second section, so that along said length from said first edge to said second edge said plurality of sections are ordered said first section, said third section, and said second section, 
 an adhesive material on said bottom flat side of said flexible sheet; 
 a backing layer on said adhesive material that is subsequently removed; 
 said first section includes a flat area that has a plurality of finger openings planar with said flat area and arranged in sequence along a width of said flexible sheet, said width perpendicular to said length, said length from said first edge to said second edge greater than said width, said third section between said finger openings and said second section; 
 said second section includes a slit extending from said second edge towards said first edge which separates said second section into a plurality of anchors of substantially equal size and that are adapted for wrapping around said wrist, 
 each of said openings are encircled by said flexible sheet in said first section so that, when said fingers are inserted into said openings, respectively, said fingers are encircled by said flexible sheet, topmost edges of said openings are between said first edge and bottom edges of said openings, and 
 said flexible sheet includes a flexible sheet portion, above said topmost edges of said openings and below said first edge, that covers said knuckles after removal of at least a portion of said backing layer, said topmost edges above said third section; 
 length of said first section is less than combined length of said second section and said third section; 
 pressing said third section onto a palm of said hand; 
 pressing said flexible sheet portion onto said knuckles to cover said knuckles; and 
 pressing said anchors around said wrist. 
 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said length is longer than a width of said flexible sheet. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said flexible sheet portion is a continuous flap above a plurality of openings that include said opening. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein combined width of said openings is less than width of said flexible sheet. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein width of said slit is less than width of said flexible sheet on either side of said opening. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein length of said slit is greater than distance from bottom of said opening to said first end. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet stretches to increase size of said openings. 
     
     
       10. Method according to  claim 3 , wherein said flexible sheet portion is a continuous flap. 
     
     
       11. Method according to  claim 3 , wherein combined width of said openings is less than width of said flexible sheet. 
     
     
       12. Method according to  claim 3 , wherein width of said slit is less than width of said anchors on either side of said slit. 
     
     
       13. Method according to  claim 3 , wherein length of said slit is greater than distance from bottom of said opening to said first end. 
     
     
       14. Method according to  claim 3 , wherein the flexible sheet stretches to increase size of said openings. 
     
     
       15. Method according to  claim 1 , wherein width of said slit is less than width of either of said anchors. 
     
     
       16. Method according to  claim 1 , wherein width of each of said openings is greater than width of said slit.